Socialist Key thinkers

• Karl Marx (revelutionary, Marxist)

  Rosa Luxembourg (Revelutionary Marxist)

  Beatrice Webb (Democratic Socialism)

  Antony Crossland (Social Democracy)

  Antony Giddens (Third Way)
• Karl Marx:

  Communist Manifesto

  Class struggle has arisen due to property ownership and has existed throughout history.

  Capitalism will eventually leave only a tiny ruling class benefiting

  Vast majority of the working class will achieve class consciousness
• Marx:

  State and society use religion, Patriotism, parliament and social reforms to weaken class consciousness and the mission to overthrow capitalism

  socialism is inevitable
• Marx:

  After the Bourgeoisie are overthrown the state will wither away and a stateless communist society will emerge.
• Marx:

  Humans are altruistic however also malleable and have been moulded by capitalism.

  capitalism musty be completely destroyed

  the state is temporary

  capitalism is inefficient and should be replaced by an economy where resources are collectively owned and distributed based on need.
• Marx:

  Focus on social class

  common humanity: humans prefer to cooperate rather than compete and will work for the common good. economic competition is wasteful and creates hostility.
• Marx:

  equality of outcome is impossible in a capitalist society

  revolution needed to remove the state and capitalism

  no form of equality is possible under capitalism
• Marx: Class can only be eradicated through revolution and removal of capitalism. the working class are alienated from their labour due to industrialisation and the fact upper classes keep the profits.
• Marxs Historical materialism: history is driven by economic factors as it shapes the rest of the state and society. it leads to a series of class conflicts that eventually result in a communist revolution, the withering away of the state and the end of history (no more class conflicts)
• Luxembourg:

  less economically developed societies shouldn't have to suffer through the historical stages until the revolution occurred and needed a vanguard to guide the working class
• Luxembourg:

  Human nature has been damaged by capitalism.

  evolutionary socialism is impossible

  argued for a new democracy with common ownership after the revolution.
• Beatrice webb:

  rejection of the revolution, violence will make situation worse, gradual evolution is preferable.

  poverty and inequality more likely to be eradicated through trade unions and state intervention.
• Webb (not key strand but key thinker democratic socialism):

  Nationalisation, clause 4

  charity and paternalism isn't a solution

  harness universal suffrage to overthrow capitalism

  believe the state must develop elite of admins to run industry
• Antony Crossland, social democracy:

  mixed economy and managed capitalism

  Keynesian economies could enjoy permanent growth.

  social equality and justice was the focus.

  delivered comprehensive education

  reduction in class not eradication.
• Crossland:

  state can be reformed, a large state is needed to manage services

  reforms aimed to reduce class conflict and inequality

  humanity needs to be guided by the state
• Antony Giddens:

  untamed capitalism is corrosive to communities and fraternity

  capitalism has the power to empower individuals and moves people out of poverty

  individuals are unable to develop due to capitalism and are influenced by economic and cultural elites
• Giddens:

  socialists must accept the free market

  the free market is needed to generate the wealth to fund public services.

  "Hand up not hand out"

  active welfare (targeting those who need it most)
• Giddens:

  Aimed to avoid high taxation

  spending priorities are on infrastructure

  citizens are stakeholders in society

  the Neo liberal laize faire economy is more efficient than any socialist model